Pilot rest for airplane

Abstract

A pilot rest system for use in a flight deck of an aircraft comprising a sleeping area, which comprises two parts, the first part being the space beneath one or more observer seats and the second part being a seat-free area adjacent to said seats. A curtain is preferably provided to enclose the second part of the sleeping area to ensure privacy and keep the sleep area dark if desired. The rest system can further comprise a mini-lavatory and a mini-galley in the flight deck.

1. A pilot rest system for use within a cockpit of an aircraft,
 the cockpit comprising an open interior area bounded by a front nose portion of the aircraft and an aft bulkhead extending inside the aircraft from a first side of the aircraft to a second side of the aircraft, a pilot seat and a first officer seat positioned proximate instrumentation and controls in a front portion of the open interior area for operating the aircraft and a single door positioned in the bulkhead for pilot ingress and egress to the cockpit, the bulkhead being a separating wall that is closer to the nose portion of the aircraft than any other separating wall extending between the first side and the second side inside the aircraft, the pilot rest system comprising: 
 at least one observer seat comprising a base and a back panel positioned within a rear portion of the open interior area of the cockpit adjacent to the bulkhead and between the single door and the first side of the aircraft, said base and a floor of the cockpit defining a void therebetween; and 
 an unoccupied space within the rear portion of the open interior area of the cockpit positioned adjacent to the bulkhead and between the at least one observer seat and the first side of the aircraft such that the unoccupied space and the void are connected to define a sleep area inside the cockpit large enough for a person to sleep in a position substantially parallel to the bulkhead, said unoccupied space being enclosed by the first side of the aircraft, the bulkhead and a retractable curtain. 
 
   
   
     2. A pilot rest system according to  claim 1 , wherein said base of the at least one observer seat can be rotatably folded upward toward said back panel providing a path for egress from and ingress into said sleep area. 
   
   
     3. A pilot rest system according to  claim 1 , wherein the cockpit comprises a galley positioned within the cockpit proximate the unoccupied space and behind the first officer seat. 
   
   
     4. A pilot rest system according to  claim 1 , wherein the cockpit comprises a lavatory positioned within the cockpit. 
   
   
     5. A pilot rest system according  claim 4 , wherein the lavatory is positioned adjacent the bulkhead between the single door and the second side of the aircraft. 
   
   
     6. An aircraft comprising a pilot rest system according to  claim 1 . 
   
   
     7. An aircraft according to  claim 6 , wherein said base of the at least one observer seat can be rotatably folded upward toward said back panel providing a path for egress from and ingress into said sleep area. 
   
   
     8. An aircraft according to  claim 6 , further comprising a galley positioned within the cockpit proximate the unoccupied space and behind the first officer seat. 
   
   
     9. An aircraft according to  claim 6 , further comprising a lavatory positioned within the cockpit adjacent the bulkhead and between the single door and the second side of the aircraft. 
   
   
     10. A pilot rest system according to  claim 1 , wherein the unoccupied space extends a distance from the bulkhead that is substantially the same as a depth of the at least one observer seat. 
   
   
     11. A pilot rest system according to  claim 1 , wherein the unoccupied space is a substantially rectangular space. 
   
   
     12. A pilot rest system according to  claim 11 , wherein the retractable curtain encloses two sides of the substantially rectangular space. 
   
   
     13. A cockpit of an aircraft comprising:
 an open interior area bounded by a front nose portion of the aircraft and an aft bulkhead extending inside the aircraft from a first side of the aircraft to a second side of the aircraft, the bulkhead being a separating wall that is closer to the nose portion of the aircraft than any other separating wall extending between the first side and the second side inside the aircraft; 
 a pilot seat and a first officer seat positioned proximate instrumentation and controls in a front portion of the open interior area for operating the aircraft; 
 a single door positioned in the bulkhead for pilot ingress and egress to the cockpit; 
 at least one observer seat comprising a base and a back panel positioned within a rear portion of the open interior area of the cockpit adjacent to the bulkhead between the single door and the first side of the aircraft, said base and a floor of the cockpit defining a void therebetween; and 
 an unoccupied space within the rear portion of the open interior area of the cockpit positioned adjacent to the bulkhead and between the at least one observer seat and the first side of the aircraft such that the unoccupied space and the void are connected to define a sleep area inside the cockpit large enough for a person to sleep in a position substantially parallel to the bulkhead, said unoccupied space being enclosed by the first side of the aircraft, the bulkhead and a retractable curtain. 
 
   
   
     14. An aircraft comprising a cockpit according to  claim 13 . 
   
   
     15. A cockpit according to  claim 13 , further comprising a galley positioned within the cockpit proximate the unoccupied space and behind the first officer seat. 
   
   
     16. A cockpit according to  claim 13 , further comprising a lavatory positioned within the cockpit. 
   
   
     17. A cockpit according to  claim 16 , wherein the lavatory is positioned adjacent the bulkhead between the single door and the second side of the aircraft.